New method sequences Cryptosporidium straight from patient samples
Researchers have developed a way to sequence the Cryptosporidium parasite directly from patient samples, without first growing it in the lab. Their peer-reviewed study appears in Nature Communications.
The team used the method to find genetic differences between parasite populations. They say these differences help explain how the parasite spreads between humans and animals. Cryptosporidium is a common cause of diarrhoeal disease in children in South Africa and across Africa, so better tracking of its spread could matter for public health. Only a short summary of the study was available, so the sample sizes and detailed findings are not yet clear.